An important Game TWO update as we await Game One of the season: Yu Darvish threw his bullpen session today, presumably without the bandaid over his blister this time, and it went well!
Darvish headed to pen to test right ring finger
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) March 28, 2019
Darvish said he has no physical restrictions for Saturday's start – can go over 100 pitches if necessary.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) March 28, 2019
Darvish, of course, was already something of a health question mark going into the season because of last year’s triceps injury, stress reaction, and arthroscopic surgery. And, although he’s in great shape, he’s also 32. So, a full recovery to the guy he was in 2017 and then before his OTHER arm surgery were far from a guarantee.
But everything was going very, very well for him this spring – Theo Epstein barely even wanted to comment on how Darvish has looked because he didn’t want to jinx just how good it had been. Darvish was pumping gas, feeling good, seeming fun and relaxed. Then the blister happened. It was not a serious thing, clearly, but they can be just problematic enough to throw things off. So it’s been quite a relief to see not only that the blister healed extremely quickly, but also that every step in the mini-rehab process with the blister has gone off without a hitch.
Darvish will start for the Cubs against the Rangers on Saturday, an then hopefully 31 more times after that in the regular season. He saved some bullets last year, and is feeling as good as he ever has. I can’t wait to watch him this weekend.